Best Cat Scratching Post of 2018 – Complete Reviews with Comparison

Scratching is an important and instinctive behavior that has physiological and psychological benefits for your cat. Your cat’s claws are constantly growing, just like a human’s finger and toenails, but every 2 to 3 months, the outer parts of their claws outgrow the blood supply. This causes the outer part to fall off to reveal fresh, new claws.

Scratching their nails against a rough surface ensures that your cat’s claws are well-maintained. Scratching also lets your cat mark their territory, not only through scent but through visual identification too. Your cat’s paws have scent glands that transfer your cat’s odor signature to the object they scratch. Plus, scratching is a vital part of your cat identifying their home.

There are so many benefits of scratching posts for your cat, so let’s look at the top 5 cat scratching posts as well as what to look for in a scratching post for your cat.

Cat Scratching Post Reviews

North American Classy Kitty Cat Scratching Post

This environment-friendly scratcher improves your cat’s life while ensuring that they have a durable and stable place to stretch out and scratch.

Product Highlights

The Classy Kitty scratching post has a tough, durable, scratching rope that has been infused with catnip to ensure that your cat is attracted to the scratching post and enjoyed stretching and scratching using this scratcher.

The scratching post is constructed from durable wood that won’t fall apart, and stain-resistant carpet material that will make this a favorite for your furry feline.

The sisal materials discourage your cat from any destructive behaviors, allowing you to keep your carpets and furniture claw-free and scratch-free.

This Classy Kitty scratching post has been designed to meet the health, visual, learning, reward, and texture needs of your cat, thanks to the Classy Kitty Advantage system.

The Good

This scratching post is a generous 32 inches tall, making it perfect for any size of cat. The carpet is strong and sturdily attached to the post, allowing even the rowdiest of cats to enjoy scratching and stretching.

The Bad

The scratching post is not made from wood, so it is not as sturdy as some of the other models available. As the carpet material is quite soft, you may find pieces of it lying around the scratching post, especially if your cat uses it regularly.

PROS

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Made from recycled materials

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This scratching post is lightweight and compact

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Comes in various neutral earthy colors to suit your home’s décor

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The post is 32 inches tall and it is suitable for cats up to 12 pounds

CONS

Some users reported that the carpet began shredding after a few weeks with daily use

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Users reported that the post had a strange smell upon arrival, although it did go away after a few days

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The scratching post can wobble or topple over if your cat is over 12 pounds

Meow Town Scratch N’ Stow Scratching Post

This sturdy and durable scratching post will quickly become a favorite with your feline friend. The toy mouse is a great addition which is bound to keep your kitty occupied for hours.

Product Highlights

Meow Town’s scratching post will keep your feline friend engaged and interested for hours with its built-in toy which contains catnip and the rugged and durable carpet-covered scratching post.

This scratcher is made from durable materials such as strong, long-lasting wood, natural sisal fiber, and plush materials that will keep your cat happy and entertained.

The catnip-infused toy, which is attached to the top of the scratching post with a bungee cord, will keep your kitty engaged in hours of fun playtime.

The base of this scratching post is 12 x 12 inches and the post itself is 21 inches tall. This means your cat can enjoy a full stretch and plenty of scratching without the scratcher taking up too much space.

All the materials used to construct this scratching post are cat-friendly. The 3.25-inch diameter of the post is attached to a strong carpet-covered base, so your cat can really go wild.

The Good

The attached toy mouse will entice your cat to play and scratch the post. The sturdy and durable materials give this scratching post longevity and stability. The compact size of the base allows you to easily place it in any room, and the post is tall enough that larger cats can use it.

The Bad

As this is such a compact model, you may find that larger or more boisterous cats can cause the scratching post to topple over with rough play.

PROS

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Built-in toy infused with catnip and attached with a bungee cord

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Made from strong wood and durable sisal fiber

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Compact size allows it to be placed anywhere

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Tall enough that even bigger cats can benefit from using it

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Stable and sturdy so it will not fall over when used

CONS

Proffcenter Cat Scratching Post

You can easily see that your cat’s need to scratch, explore, and play are seen to with the Proffcenter scratching post. Your cat can enjoy hours of scratching and playing fun with the scratching tower and the bobble toy at the top.

Product Highlights

This multifunctional scratching post will ensure that your cat’s scratching and stretching needs as well as their mental stimulation needs are met.

The 14-inch tall scratching tower is made of durable sisal rope which is a sturdy and desirable scratching surface. The sisal rope also helps pull the old sheaths off your cat’s claws, revealing their sharp, new claws. This is not only enjoyable for your cat but helps them stay healthy.

The heavy-duty base of the scratcher provides stability and sturdiness so that it will not wobble or topple over while your cat is using it.

The 2-in-1 post and toy design is very appealing, and your cat will enjoy hours of playing with the bobble softball and scratching post.

The eco-friendly wood is high quality and has been treated with oils that are food-based and safe for your feline friend, giving it a great finish as well as high durability.

Engage your cat into a creative play with incredible 2-In-1 Cat Scratching Post with Cat Toy!

This cat scratch with a Sturdy wooden base 43oz you can be assured of no toppling or wobbling!

The wooden base could be used as a interactive cat game or even as a feeder cat puzzle.

Made from eco-friendly wood which is treated with food based natural oils and natural sisal rope for cats.

We also offer you 100 Risk-Free Satisfaction Guarantee to let you buy this sisal cat scratcher cum toy with confidence. However we are quite sure that you will be impressed with this Sisal Cat Tree for its functional effectiveness and beautiful design that's loved by cats.

The Good

The wooden puzzle in the base of the scratching post will pique your cat’s interest and it doubles as a hide-and-seek type of food finder that your cat will love to play with. The compact size of this scratcher allows you to easily place it in any room in your house with ease.

The Bad

As this scratching post is not infused with catnip, many cats may not be interested in it unless you put some on the post yourself. This scratcher is also smaller in size, standing at only 14 inches tall, so larger cats may not be able to use this effectively.

PROS

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Sturdy, stable wooden base

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Safe for your cat and eco-friendly for the environment

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Wooden base can be used as a puzzle feeder or game

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The 14-inch tall sisal post gives plenty of length for your cat to stretch out

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100% satisfaction guarantee

CONS

Compact product is not suitable for large cats

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Some users reported that the screw needed to attach the post to the base was not included

Heritage Products Edgar Scratching Post

The basic shape and straightforward design of this scratching post make it easy to integrate it into any room in your home. Your cat will love digging their claws into the durable, heavy-duty, strong sisal rope and being engaged by the hanging rattling ball toy.

Product Highlights

The natural sisal rope used to construct this scratching post provides your cat with a strong and sturdy surface to scratch their nails and stretch.

This compact scratching post can easily be placed into any room in your home and the earthy color choices make it a beautiful addition to your current décor. The base of the scratcher is a compact 12 x 12 inch base that can easily fit behind your couches or next to your cat’s favorite window.

The hanging toy has a rattle sound which will keep your cat interested and excited, giving them something to play with when you are not around.

The classic rectangle-shaped post is covered with heavy-duty, strong sisal rope while the base is covered by durable carpet, giving your cat different surfaces to scratch their claws on.

The Good

The attached ball toy will attract your cat to play with, scratch, and stretch using the post. The strong and long-lasting materials give this scratching post durability and stability. The small size of the base lets you to place the scratching post in any room, and the rectangular post is long enough that even your larger cats can use it.

The Bad

This Edgar scratching post does not have catnip infused into the rope or toy, so some cats will not be interested in it at first. The scratching post is 19 inches tall, so you may find that your larger cats topple the scratcher over when they use it.

PROS

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The scratching post is made from durable and long-lasting materials

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The earthy colors of this scratcher suit any room in the house

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The bungee mounted ball toy will keep your cat engaged for hours

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The use of carpet and sisal rope gives your cat variety when scratching and stretching

CONS

The base is quite small, so it may topple over if your cat is larger or boisterous

4CLAWS Wall Mounted Scratching Post

You can protect your walls, cupboards, door frames, and other furniture by using the 4CLAWS scratching post, giving your kitty a healthy alternative for stretching and scratching.

Product Highlights

This 4CLAWS scratching post is mounted to your wall using screws, which make it sturdy and stable enough for your feline friend to rest their entire weight on while stretching and scratching.

With the package, you will receive the screws to easily mount your scratching post on any vertical surface, like a wall or a cupboard. The post is 18 inches tall, so there is plenty of room for your cat to comfortably stretch and scratch, and you can mount the scratching post at different heights based on the size of your kitty.

This scratching post is designed to attract your cat and appeal to their inner feline instinct to scratch and stretch. The natural sisal rope and the anodized aluminum frame make this scratcher neat, strong, and durable.

The Good

The tall post allows your cat to scratch and stretch vertically. As it is wall mounted, the height can be adjusted to suit your cat while also providing sturdiness. The natural sisal rope is durable and eco-friendly. The minimal, modern, space-saving scratching post will see to all your cat’s scratching needs.

The Bad

This scratching post may take some getting used to as it is wall mounted which is not a typical place that cats scratch. As it is mounted it is an effort to move if you find that your cat doesn’t use it in the current spot. Mounting the scratching post to the wall takes around 15 minutes.

PROS

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Can be mounted at any height to suit the size of your cat

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The scratching post is built with high quality materials

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Great product for a very affordable price

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Durable sisal rope ensures longevity and sturdiness

CONS

Buyer’s Guide

There are a wide variety of cat scratchers available, all with different builds and features. However, the most important part of a cat scratcher is that your furry feline loves it. Like humans, cats have different personalities and preferences, so it can take some experimenting to find what your cat likes.

Fortunately, we can make your search a lot simpler by identifying the top 5 key features that you should look for when looking to buy a cat scratcher. Let’s look at some of these features which determine whether a scratcher is an option for your kitty.

Materials

A good scratching post has great materials for your cat to scratch. The materials are what make the scratching post appealing and interesting to your cat, determining whether your cat will use it or not. The most common materials used on cat scratching posts are sisal rope, carpet, cardboard, and sisal fabric. It is important to ensure that high quality materials have been used so they don’t fall apart when your cat scratches it repeatedly.

Sisal

This material is most commonly used in its rope form and is the sturdiest of all the materials for cat scratching posts. Although sisal rope scratchers are generally more expensive than other materials, they also last longer. The thicker the rope, the better the quality, and the longer it will last.

Carpet

This material is one of the cheapest used on cat scratchers. There are many different color options available, so you can easily find one to suit your home’s décor. Look for thicker, denser carpet on the scratching post as this will last longer.

Cardboard

This material is the cheapest of all materials used on cat scratchers, and it also has the shortest lifespan. Some cats prefer scratching their nails on cardboard, so try to find corrugated cardboard scratching posts for your feline friend.

Construction, Durability, and Stability

Cat scratching posts that are constructed using a high-quality building method goes a long way to ensuring the durability and longevity of the scratcher. Sturdy wood that has been screwed together, rather than nailed or glued, provides more strength to the piece. Cats have a lot of strength in their muscles and great grip with their claws, so a poorly constructed scratcher won’t have the structural integrity to withstand enthusiastic scratching from your cat.

If you have tiled or wooden floors, you may have to place the scratching post on a rubber mat or pads to stop it sliding across your floor. If the scratcher is quite tall, ensure that the base is wide and sturdy to provide stability when your cat is using it.

If the scratching post is wobbly, your cat will not want to use it. This is why cats love scratching your furniture – they are stable. Make sure you choose a solid post that will not be knocked over when your cat uses it. Most importantly, you need to ensure stability for the enjoyment and safety of your feline friend.

Shape

The cat scratcher you choose should let your cat completely stretch out. When purchasing a scratching post, find one which is one-and-a-half times as long as your cat. Cats also need stimulation from stretching both horizontally and vertically, which is why you need to provide multiple surfaces for scratching. There are a few ways to offer this scratching experience. Some scratchers have multiple surfaces which let your cat scratch from different positions. You can also buy a selection of scratchers, with each offering something different, such as angles, flat, mounted, and curved scratching posts.

Variety

One thing you need to make sure of is that your cat has things that will keep them interested and occupied or else they will get bored. By choosing scratching posts that are made with a variety of materials, you are ensuring that your cat stays happy and busy. Scratching posts that combine different materials with different levels as well as toys make scratching and stretching even more exciting for your feline friend. Some scratching posts have lounging areas, feeding platforms, or puzzles to keep your cat content.

Activities

It is important to keep your cat interested and engaged on a daily basis. By choosing a scratching post that your cat can use to scratch and stretch that also has a toy on it that they can play with, you are targeting many of your cat’s needs at once. Scratching posts come with a variety of toys to choose from such as catnip-infused mice and balls, to moving marbles, and feathers. Try to find something that will attract your cat to the scratching post.

Best Cat Scratching Post FAQs

How do I get my cat to use the scratching post?

Cats will normally recognize what a scratching post is for and will use it without you having to do much encouraging. However, if you find that your cat needs some enticing to explore the new scratcher, there are a couple of tried and tested methods you could use to attract your feline friend to it.

First, you should place the new scratching post in a place in your home where your cat already loves to relax, whether this is by their bed, next to a window, or near their food bowl. If you find that your cat scratches your rug, carpet, or furniture in a certain part of your home, place the scratcher in this area.

Second, if your cat enjoys catnip or catmint, sprinkle some over the scratching post to encourage them to investigate the new addition. If your cat doesn’t like catnip or catmint, place some of your cat’s kibble on the scratcher to attract them.

What are the benefits of using a scratching post?

There are many reasons that cats scratch. By understanding that your cat needs to scratch for the physical and psychological health, you can provide them with something that they can enjoy and will keep them coming back to rather than scratching your furniture or carpets. Some of the reasons your cat needs to scratch include:

Stretching their muscles and working out

Marking their territory

Relieve anxiety and stress

Trimming their nails

Sloughing the outer layer of their claws

It is calming and enjoyable

Having multiple scratching posts for your cat is a great idea, especially if you find that your cat spends time in different rooms or if your cat gets bored easily. By placing the scratching post in the rooms where your cat loves spending time, they will have no reason to use anything else to scratch, which is good for you and your cat.

Where should I put the scratching post?

The place where you put your cat’s scratching post has a large impact on whether your cat uses it or whether they completely ignore it. If you are replacing a scratcher that has become old and worn, simply place the new one in the same spot where the old one was. It is always best to stick with a location that you know already works.

If this is the first time you are trying a scratching post with your cat, you will have to carefully consider where you will place it, and you may have to move it around a few times before your cat starts using it. Cats scratch things to mark territory, so your kitty is more likely to use the scratching post if it is placed in an area where they spend a lot of time and enjoy.

Should I pick a scratching post that is also a cat bed?

Scratching posts come in all shapes and sizes. Some are simply posts that your cat can use as and when they want, then return to their favorite sleeping spot, while others are designed with beds or resting platforms that your cat can sleep in when they are not using the post to scratch.

There are post-style scratchers that have beds at the top that look somewhat like a cat tree. You can also find scratchers that are wide rather than tall, allowing your cat to lounge across the top.

Whether you select a multi-functional scratching post with a bed area or not is your choice. If your cat has a few favorite sleeping spots or a bed that they already love, there is no need to add an extra one unless you want to. If your cat doesn’t already have a bed or loves finding new lounging spots, then you may want to get a two-in-one option instead.

What scratching surface should I get?

Just like humans, cats can get bored. We need to make sure with any pet, whether it is a cat or a dog, or any other, that they have a variety of things to keep them interested and occupied. Boredom is not something your pets should experience.

When selecting a scratching post for your cat, try to look at the options from the point of view of your cat, taking into account their personality and likes. Choosing a variety of posts with different materials or one post with different platforms with various materials will ensure that your cat is happy and busy.

By putting a scratching post that has a horizontal platform in front of your cat’s favorite window lets your cat climb, sit, look out the window, scratch vertically and horizontally, and nap on the perch. It is the ideal way to ensure that your cat’s needs are met. If you find that your cat is bored with the post in the position it is in, simply move it to be in front of a different window every few weeks to give your kitty something new to look at and watch.

Consider what type of material your cat already enjoys scratching. Do they like wood, carpet, or your furniture? This will inform your decision, but you should try to incorporate a variety of materials to give your cat different options to enjoy.

Conclusion

A scratching post is a great way to ensure that your cat can do all the scratching they want without ruining your furniture. With the information in this buyer’s guide as well as the top 5 best cat scratching post reviews, you should have all the information you need to make a well-informed decision for you and your cat.

There are so many choices available when it comes to size, shape, color, and material, so you should be able to find exactly what you want. With all of the above considered, though, our recommendation is the 4CLAWS Wall Mounted Scratching Post because it is built from high-quality materials, so it will not fall apart no matter how boisterous your cat is. It can be mounted to any vertical surface and at a height that suits your cat’s size. Plus, it is a great product at a very affordable price.